Legacy · Progression: 25th & 50th Jubilee Celebration

2015 is the year that calls for a double celebration for Singapore. Not only is Singapore celebrating its 50th birthday, it is also a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Singapore-China diplomatic relations.

In celebration of these special 25th & 50th anniversaries, HaKaren Art Gallery has organized a Singapore-China Art Exchange Exhibition. It was first exhibited in Beijing in April, and will travel to Singapore this month, opening on 9th May.

On 1st April this year, the exhibition was successfully launched in the Art Museum at Tsinghua University in Beijing, with a grand opening graced by distinguished guests, including His Excellency Stanley Loh Ka Leung, ambassador for the Republic of Singapore in Beijing, and China Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chief Counsellor, Madam Xu Wei. Featuring over 50 artworks by some of the most prominent artists from both countries, “Legacy · Progression” is the highlight event of 2015 in Tsinghua University. This exhibition received tremendous support from the co-organizers such as Zhang Ding Art Research Centre, Wu Guan Zhong Art Research Centre, Tsinghua University, as well as the Singapore Arts Federation.

The Singapore-China Art Exchange Exhibition is a rare collaboration opportunity for artists hailing from both countries to come together to present their artworks. This will no doubt enhance the fraternity of the artists of Singapore and China and strengthen academic interaction among them. Through this meaningful exhibition, audiences can have a better understanding of the development of art and culture in both countries.

Looking back through art history, many older generations of artists had teaching experiences at institutions of higher education. They could be described as artists cum art educators. In this Singapore-China Art Exchange Exhibition, many of the participating artists are also dedicated art educators who have not only produced many masterpieces over the years, but have also made tremendous and significant contributions to the arts scene, grooming the next generation and enriching the development of visual art in general.

With Singapore being the trade hub of South East Asia, Chinese people constitute about 70% of the local population. Belonging to the same ethnic race, Chinese Singaporeans share a close relationship with China. Through centuries of vicissitudes, regional and experiential differences have allowed the Chinese in both countries to shape their own unique thinking and vision. With this collaboration opportunity, we present 2nd generation Chinese artists from Singapore, who are well established and highly regarded in the arts community, to China. Similarly, we are pleased to showcase to our Singapore audience artists from China who are top art professors in Beijing, well-respected and considered the crème de la crème of the country’s art scene. It is hoped that the audience will gain a deeper understanding of the development of Chinese art in the region.